New Hero RR 450 Showcased in India for the First Time – Specs and Pics

Hero MotoSports Team Rally, the motor-sport division of Hero MotoCorp, showcased the new Hero RR 450 rally bike in India for the first time ever. The company has also announced its Team for the Dakar Rally 2018.The new RR 450 rally bike will be seen being ridden by Indian riders CS Santosh and Joaquim Rodrigues along with Spanish talent Oriol Mena Valdearcos at the Dakar 2018.

The new Hero RR 450 is an upgrade of the rally bike from last year. It comes with a new design and styling of the tank, body parts and front section to improve mass centralization, handling and riding ergonomics. The new Hero 450 RR recently participated in the OiLibya Rally in Morocco, where it performed flawlessly. Hero MotoSports Team Rally had an impressive debut this year as it became the only manufacturer team with 100% arrivals at the 2017 Dakar Rally. The Team also managed to register its maiden win at BAJA India and a podium finish at the Desert Storm.

The 2018 edition of the biggest rally-raid in the world, Dakar, will cross three countries, starting with Peru on January 6, 2018 and travelling through Bolivia before concluding in Argentina on January 20, 2018. The participants will cover a distance of 9,000 KMs. Out of the overall 14 stages, seven will include 100% dunes/off-piste, 1 marathon stage for all categories and 1 marathon stage for bikes and quads only. Chances are that the mew Hero RR 450 will be even put on a show at the fast approaching Auto Expo 2018.

New Hero RR 450 Rally Bike Specifications

The new Hero RR 450 rally bike is based on the Speedbrain 450 rally motorcycle that is powered by a 449.5cc single-cylinder engine. The engine outputs a maximum power of 50 bhp. The motorcycle has a dry weight of 140 KGs. Hence, the bike ends up offering a favourable power-to-weight ratio. The bodywork of this motorcycle is made up of a Carbon-Kevlar composite. The motorcycle is built around a lightweight chromium-molybdenum steel frame. Highlights of the specs include dual overhead cams, electronic intake pipe injection, digital engine management and an O-ring chain. The motor comes mated to a six-speed manual transmission.

CS Santosh, Rider, Hero MotoSports Team Rally said, “I am satisfied with this year’s preparations, where I had the opportunity to work with industry professionals and experts, which brought in a better structure to the preparations. I am very happy with the new bike that we raced with at the OiLibiya Rally in October. The new bike is light, agile and makes going fast safe! This Dakar I will aim to make each and everyday count! Ultimately it’s about enjoying the process and arriving at the finish line.”

New Hero RR 450 Rally Bike Pics

Commenting on the occasion, Dr. Markus Braunsperger, Chief Technology Officer, Hero MotoCorp and Head of Hero MotoSports said, “We are excited and prepared for Dakar 2018. The team is stronger, both in terms of men and machine. We are focused on improving our last year’s performance at the Dakar next month and believe that we have the right tools to do it. Next year will be important for us, as we aim to win more rallies and grow the sport in India”

Mr. Wolfgang Fischer, Team Manager, Hero MotoSports Team Rally, said, “The last race for the Team was in October this year. The riders have been under intense training sessions, to improve their mental and physical fitness since their Dakar 2017 performance. They had a good run on the new bike at OiLibya and are now more confident on it. There is excitement in the Team with addition of Oriol and the entire team is now raring to have another go at the Dakar.”